The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has directed Alhaji Musa Tarawally to stop presenting himself as a member of the party or as an aspirant for its flagbearership, following confirmation that he remains a member of the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP).

In a letter dated September 17, 2026, SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa informed Tarawally that the party had contacted the CDP to verify his current membership status. The CDP reportedly responded on September 3, confirming that Tarawally remains a member of the party.

The SLPP subsequently directed Tarawally to cease using the party’s logo, presenting himself as an SLPP member or holding himself out as an aspirant for the party’s flagbearership. The directive cites Article 6(3a) of the SLPP Constitution concerning the National Chairman’s administrative oversight of the party.

Tarawally contested the 2018 presidential election under the CDP banner. Independent election records also identify him as the CDP presidential candidate in that election.

The development comes as Tarawally had been publicly positioning himself as an SLPP flagbearer aspirant ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Recent reports have documented his engagements with SLPP supporters and his campaign activities across the country.

The SLPP is expected to issue a separate public statement informing its members and the wider public of its position on Tarawally’s status.

Tarawally had not, at the time of the reports, publicly responded to the SLPP’s directive. A separate response from SLPP Chief Patron Mohamed Malaam Janneh has reportedly defended Tarawally’s membership of the SLPP, arguing that his status within the party remains valid.